Native American-themed books garnering attention

Sunday

APPLE VALLEY — Author Mary Ruth Hughes was informed that her four “Native American” themed books were accepted into the archives of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

Daniel F. Littlefield, the director of the Sequoyah National Research Center at the university, informed Hughes about the distinction. Her books include historical novels “Tishomingo” and “Return to Okla Chuka,” along with “Willow Flower’s Gift” and “Native American Recipes."

The vice president of the Mohahve Historical Society who lives in Apple Valley and has “strong roots” in her home state of Oklahoma, Hughes said she was “excited and honored by the news.”

“The Tishomingo book was released about six years ago and was nationally recognized for its historical portrayal of Indian territory before Oklahoma statehood,” Hughes said. “'Return to Okla Chuka: Tishomingo Part II' was released two years ago and has received a lot of attention.”

The book "Willow Flower's Gift” reveals how an old woman's “unselfish gift” preserved her tribe's “unique beading method,” according to Hughes, who added that every fictional character in her books was inspired by people she knows or had known throughout her life.

An active member of the High Desert Branch of the California Writers Club, Professional Women's Group, Hughes compiled her grandmother's memoirs into "Memories of a Farmer's Daughter."

Hughes grandmother, Jennie Robbins, grew up in Arkansas and later married W.I. Phelps from “Indian territory.” She lived the rest of her life on a ranch outside of Tishomingo, Oklahoma, until her death at 98-years old in 1984.

“My grandmother, Jennie, was not Native American, but she grew up in that culture,” Hughes said. “Both my grandparents are from Tishomingo and I learned about my heritage and culture from my maternal grandmother, Zuma, who told me that when I grew up I should write a story about Tishomingo.”

A popular movie producer approached Hughes about creating a feature film or TV mini-series based on her book “Tishomingo.”

Located in Little Rock, Arkansas, the research center holds the world’s largest assemblage of Native American expression in the world. The center is also the official repository for the American Indian Library Association correspondence, the National Trail of Tears Association and the Native American Journalist Association.

Their mission is to acquire and preserve the writings and ideas of Native North Americans and to ensure the discussion of Native America accounts for the perspectives of the peoples themselves, the center reported.

Many of Hughes’ articles have been featured in Listen, California Highway Patrolman, Highlander and Treasure magazines. Her books have been offered at the Smithsonian Institution, the Crazy Horse Memorial and several Native American-themed retail outlets.

Hughes' next book is based on the Great Galveston Hurricane that struck the Texas town on September 8, 1900. With winds up to 145 mph, the storm killed 6,000 to 12,000 people and was known as the deadliest in U.S. history.

“My great-grandfather took a train from Ardmore, Oklahoma, to Galveston in 1902 to help build the seawall that still stands to this day,” Hughes said. “My grandmother sang a song about that hurricane that I still remember to this day.”

For more information on Hughes and her books, visit www.maryruthhughes.com, www.amazon.com or www.barnesandnoble.com.